The First Warby Parker Sunglasses

 

Warby Parker, the hot eyewear brand that taught us quality glasses could be purchased for under $100, is finally releasing their first pair of sunglasses. Almost since day one of offering optical glasses people have been clamoring for some sunny weather wear, and now the day is upon us.

It could still be another month or so until their full nine-frame collection of sunglasses hits the showroom and the internet, and another month or two until those are available in prescription – but for now I present the Warby Parker / Invisible Children collaboration sunglasses.

If you haven’t heard of the later half of this duo, Invisible Children, they are a non-profit organization that helps build schools, rehabilitation centers, and infrastructure to help former child soldiers and children orphaned due to war in Central Africa.  The folks from Warby Parker met the folks from Invisible Children at a conference for socially-conscious small businesses, and decided their one-for-one program could go a step further.  For every pair of the sunglasses sold, $30 will make it directly to Invisible Children.

So while I love doing good just as much as the next guy – generosity of spirit is far more important to the gentleman that a bespoke suit or handmade shoes – there is the question of the quality and style of the glasses themselves.  And I’m happy to report only good things.  Warby Parker only uses acetate, not injection molded plastics, for their frames, so they are lightweight but with a bit of substance and heft as well.  The lenses are dark without being blackout curtains, and the shape is not dissimilar from the ever-stylish Persol 649.

I’m not usually one for slogans and such on the outside of my clothing (or really the inside for that matter), but the “Invisible Children” on the outside is quiet and the “Do More Than Just Watch” on the inside arm is actually pretty cool.  And come on, where else can you make a $30 donation to a good cause, donate a pair of glasses to someone in need, and pick up a stylish pair of retro bins all for under a cool $100?  I’m just waiting for the prescription lenses – otherwise I won’t be watching much of anything…